Executive Appointments Announced in the New York Field Office

Executive Appointments Announced in the New York Field Office

Director James B. Comey appointed three new executives as special agents in charge at the FBI New York Office (NYO).

George Ennis was named special agent in charge of the Administrative Division. He most recently served as section chief of the Foreign Terrorist Training Task Force in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters (FBIHQ). He joined the FBI in 1991 and has served in several positions in the NYO throughout his career, to include the terrorist financing squad. While in this role, Mr. Ennis opened an investigation into the activities of the Alavi Foundation of New York. The foundation had been a front for the Government of Iran (GOI) for decades and the GOI’s primary funding instrument for advancing its objectives in the US. As a result of this case, the FBI seized all of the GOI’s covertly owned assets in the U.S. and all assets were forfeited to the U.S. government. In 2010, Mr. Ennis received the Federal Executive Board Award for his work on this case. In 2011, he was designated assistant special agent in charge of the Counterintelligence Division at NYO, and in 2013, Mr. Ennis was awarded the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation’s James M. Fox Memorial Award for career distinguished service.

Gregory W. Ehrie was named special agent in charge of the Intelligence Division. He most recently served as section chief of the Domestic Terrorism Operations Section at FBIHQ. He joined the FBI as a special agent in 1998 and was first assigned to the NYO, where he worked on the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. During his time in the NYO, he worked a variety of counterterrorism and intelligence missions. In 2010, Mr. Ehrie was the responding on-scene commander when an unknown subject attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device in Times Square. Mr. Ehrie led the subsequent investigation into the bombing attempt and his squad identified, located, and arrested the bomber within 53 hours of the incident. Based on their efforts, Mr. Ehrie and his squad were the recipients of the 2011 Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award.

Michael Harpster was named special agent in charge of the Criminal Division. He most recently served as a section chief and acting deputy assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) at FBIHQ. In these positions, Mr. Harpster led one of the largest and most active branches in the FBI. Mr. Harpster became a special agent in 1997 and was assigned to the NYO, where he investigated criminal matters related to Colombian and South American drug cartels from within the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. In 2003, he transferred to the Counterterrorism Division, where he program managed numerous high-profile counterterrorism investigations in the U.S. and abroad. In 2013, Mr. Harpster was selected to form and lead the Violent Crimes Against Children Section in CID at FBIHQ. During his tenure as section chief, Mr. Harpster directed the Violent Crimes Against Children program for the entire FBI, developing a rapid, proactive, and comprehensive capability to counter all threats of abuse and exploitation of children.